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Socioeconomic Impact Assessment
1. Sustainability 2012, 4, 531-542; doi:10.3390/su4040531
OPEN ACCESS
sustainability
ISSN 2071-1050
www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
Article
Socioeconomic Assessment of Meat Protein Extracts (MPE) as a
New Means of Reducing the U.S. Population’s Salt Intake
Bedanga Bordoloi *, Rikke Winther Nørgaard, Flemming Mark Christensen and
Per Henning Nielsen
Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: bgbd@novozymes.com;
Tel.:+45-4446-0241; Fax: +45-4446-9999.
Received: 5 January 2012; in revised form: 13 March 2012 / Accepted: 27 March 2012 /
Published: 29 March 2012
Abstract: Excessive salt intake causes a number of cardiovascular diseases, such as
strokes and hypertension. This is a burden on the individual as well as on society, because
these diseases are fatal and costly to treat and live with. Much of the salt comes from
processed meat such as sausages, ham, and bacon and has, so far, been hard to avoid
because of consumer taste preference as well as the technological benefits. Meat protein
extract (MPE) is a broth of hydrolyzed protein which can reduce the salt in processed meat
by more than one third without compromising on taste and functionality. This study
estimates the socioeconomic impacts of implementing MPE widely across the United
States (US) by relating the national salt intake reduction potential of MPE (5%) to a broad
range of health, societal, and individual factors derived from the literature. Results show
that benefits for society are substantial and MPE could be part of the solution for the
problem of excessive salt intake. MPE could deliver 25% of the U.S. ‘National Salt
Reduction Initiative’ goals, avoid approximately 1 million hypertension cases and save
around USD 1.6 billion in annual direct healthcare costs. Verification indicates that these
estimates are conservative.
Keywords: salt; sodium; shared value; meat ;enzyme; healthcare; QALY; chronic diseases
2. Sustainability 2012, 4 532
1. Introduction
Salt has been used as a food preservative for thousands of years [1]. With the invention of the
refrigerator, salt is no longer required to the same extent as a preservative, and is now used more as a
taste enhancer [2]. As time has increasingly become a scarce resource in many parts of the world, the
consumption of processed food with a high salt content to save time on home cooking has increased
extensively [1]. Salt used in food products is a mixture of sodium and chloride. Excessive sodium has a
range of adverse effects on health, and many studies have been conducted on the recommended
sodium intake level [3–5]. Results show that, in order to prevent chronic diseases, the average per
capita consumption of sodium should be below 2 g/day. Average sodium intake exceeds this
recommended amount [6], contributing to common chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes,
hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases [7–9]. These diseases not only have a significant negative
effect on people’s lives, but also on society, as extensive resources are used by healthcare systems for
treatment [10,11].
Population-based strategies have been used across the world [12] to lower salt content in food
products. The National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI), introduced by New York City Health
Department in 2010, is an example of a national coalition of health authorities and organizations
working to help food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the amount of salt in food products on a
voluntary basis. The goal is to reduce the salt intake of Americans by 20% by 2014 [13]. The common
objective of population-based strategies is to reduce the average dietary salt intake from processed
foods through voluntary actions by companies, organizations and government regulation [12,14].
Processed meat (sausages, ham, bacon etc.) is the second largest source of sodium intake (18% of
daily sodium intake) in the US [6]. Several methods exist for reducing sodium levels in processed
meat. One is to reduce the actual salt content. However, only small gradual reductions in salt content in
the range of 5–10% can be implemented without compromising on taste and texture. Larger reductions
require reformulation of the products to ensure flavor and aroma [2]. Another method is to use salt
replacers, where sodium salt (NaCl) is replaced with potassium salt (KCl) for instance. However,
potassium salt has a metallic off-taste, and potassium can only replace a certain fraction of the sodium
without compromising on taste. Finally, salt perception can be improved by modifying the NaCl
crystal structure or by adding salt enhancers to the meat to restore the sensation of saltiness [2].
However, none of the methods suggested so far have the potential to solve the entire excess sodium intake
problem within processed meat, and there is a need for a broader choice of salt reduction opportunities.
Meat Protein Extracts (MPE) is one such opportunity. MPE is a tasty protein soup or broth which is
produced by hydrolyzing the meat that remains on the bones from slaughterhouses through a biological
process which uses enzymes. Conceptually, MPE is comparable to the broth/soup that can be made by
cooking bones for several hours, and it has been used by several meat processors over the past decade
for flavor improvement and Monosodium glutamate (MSG) reduction. However, recent research has
shown that, in addition to flavor improvement, MPE can be used to improve the texture and water-binding
capacity of processed meat products such as ham and sausages, and that it can be used to replace some
of the salt they contain [15]. The flavor, texture, and water-binding improvement achieved by adding
MPE to processed meat products are not fully understood, but some likely explanations are given in
Box 1. Further details on MPE production and implementation are given in Box 2.
3. Sustainability 2012, 4 533
Box 1: The nature of enzymes and MPE
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They are found in all living organisms. They have
been used in the production of food products (e.g., cheese, soy sauce, meat
tenderization) since ancient times, and are now produced by fermentation and used
across a broad range of industries around the world [16]. Enzymes act by cutting
biological molecules into pieces like small scissors. The enzymes Protamex® and
Flavourzyme® made by Novozymes are proteases which cut meat protein into small
pieces of protein (peptides) and free amino acids. The flavor improvement of MPE is
likely to be explained by the presence of free amino acids, particularly glutamine,
glutamate, cysteine, and methionine, which are known to impact meat flavor. The
improved texture and water-binding capacity achieved by adding the MPE to meat
products are likely to be driven by two mechanisms: (1) Water binds to hydrophilic side
groups of amino acids which come to the surface when proteins are cut into pieces by
the enzymes and reorganized; and (2) water is contained in small cavities in the meat
which are created when peptides from the MPE bind with the meat during cooking.
Box 2: Production and implementation of MPE
MPE is produced by treating the meat (left on bones after mechanical meat separation
at slaughterhouses) with enzymes in warm water for one hour (approx. 1 m3 water per
ton bones; 55 °C). The enzymes “cut” the meat into small pieces of protein which is
extracted into the water, explaining the name of the product. The enzymes are
deactivated by heating after the extraction process by increasing water temperature to
85 °C in 15 minutes. Processing is conducted in conventional cooking and separation
equipment and implementation of MPE production is a simple technical operation.
By producing MPE, profitability for the meat processor is improved because
lower-value co-products and trimmings are converted into higher value products.
Pay-back period of new MPE production equipment is therefore usually less than one
year. Implementation of MPE as alternative to salt in processed meat is likely to be cost
neutral or have an insignificant impact on the cost that consumer incur.
MPE content of processed meat products is declared as “partially hydrolyzed (source
of protein)” in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
A trial at the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI) [15] showed that injection of MPE
manufactured by enzymatic hydrolysis of meat with Protamex® and Flavourzyme® had a salt
reduction potential of 36% (from 2.5% to 1.6% NaCl) without compromising on yield, functionality,
and six sensory aspects (color, aroma, taste, saltiness, firmness, and coherency). DMRI estimates that
the salt reduction potential can be up to 40% [31].
4. Sustainability 2012, 4 534
Novozymes is an innovative biotechnology company with a strong commitment to sustainable
development. Novozymes therefore plays a pivotal role in creating not only economic value but also
societal benefits by addressing important issues like health, nutrition, and environment: so-called
shared value as defined by Porter and Kramer [17]. Though Novozymes does not produce MPE, it has
developed the enzymes Protamex® and Flavourzyme® used to produce MPE, and has thus played a
central role in developing MPE as an alternative to salt. The purpose of this paper is therefore to assess
the socioeconomic impact of MPE if it was implemented broadly in processed meat in the US.
The US market has been selected as the geographical focus area because consumption of processed
foods is high in the US [18], and salt intake from foods and its effects on health and society are well
investigated there.
2. Method
The socioeconomic impact of implementing MPE broadly in processed meat (SEI(MPE)) is
assessed by calculating the socioeconomic impact per percent of salt intake reduction according to a
set of literature references and multiplying this with the salt intake reduction potential of MPE,
(SIR(MPE)) and the fraction of the population that can benefit from salt intake reduction, IP.
SEI total
SEI MPE SIR MPE IP (1)
SIR total
Where:
SEI (total) is the total socioeconomic effect of reducing sodium intake in the U.S. according to a
particular study reported in the literature
SIR (total) is population-wide sodium intake reduction in the U.S. (%) according to the same study
SIR (MPE) is the sodium intake reduction potential of MPE in the U.S. (%)
IP is the impacted population according to the considered literature reference (%)
The factor IP is included to account for the population that can benefit from any sodium intake
reduction initiative. Approximately 30% of the U.S. population consumes less than the recommended
dietary limit of sodium (2,400 mg per day) [14] and is therefore excluded from the study. The IP factor
is therefore 100% − 30% = 70%.
3. Reference Data Selection
Several studies have shown that population health and quality of life could be improved and
healthcare costs reduced if the sodium intake of a given population was reduced [1,4,9,11,14,19–22].
Based on data and information from a selection of these studies (see Table 1), we attempt to estimate
similar socioeconomic impacts on the U.S. population if MPE was implemented broadly in processed
meat and salt content in processed meat was subsequently reduced by 36% as described in
the introduction.
5. Sustainability 2012, 4 535
Table 1. Socioeconomic impact in the United States if sodium intake was reduced according
to the three selected studies.
Sodium intake Socioeconomic impact, SEI (total)
Use in this
Study reduction
Category Type Quantity study
SIR (total)
Health Reduction in cases of hypertension 17.7 million Calculation
Individual
QALY a), year 496,897 Calculation
Palar and 65% + societal
Sturm (3,400 to Societal QALY worth, billion USD/year 50.3 Calculation
(2009) 1,200 mg/day) Direct healthcare cost savings on
Societal curing hypertension, billion 28.3 Calculation
USD/year
Health Coronary heart diseases averted 60,000–120,000 Calculation
Annual number of new cases of
Health 32,000–66,000 Calculation
strokes reduced
Annual number of new cases of
Bibbins- Health 54,000–99,000 Calculation
35% myocardial infarction reduced
Domingo
(salt reduction Individual Annual number of deaths from
et al. 44,000–92,000 Calculation
by 3 g/day) + societal any cases reduced
(2010)
Individual
QALY, year 194,000–392,000 Validation
+ societal
Annual healthcare cost savings,
Societal 10–24 Validation
billion USD/year
Annual number of new cases of
Health 513,885 Validation
strokes reduced
Smith- Annual number of new cases of
Health 480,358 Validation
Spangler myocardial infarction reduced
9.5%
et al. Individual
QALY, year 2.1 million Validation
(2010) + societal
Annual direct medical cost
Societal 32.1 Validation
savings, billion USD/year
a)
QALY: Quality Adjusted Life Year.
A holistic approach is taken in the study and a broad selection of indicators has been implemented:
(1) health aspects (reduction in the annual number of new cases of hypertension, coronary heart
disease, strokes, myocardial infarction, and deaths); (2) individual aspects (Quality-Adjusted Life
Years (QALY); and (3) societal aspects (healthcare cost savings and indirect cost savings from
avoided productivity and tax lost due absenteeism). QALY is a measure of disease burden including
both the quality and the quantity of life lived [23]. QALY is also the preferred measure of quality of
life for cost-effectiveness analysis [24]. This study uses USD 100,000/QALY as its valuation in line
with Palar and Sturm[14]. QALY valuation refers to recent dialysis standards updated to 2005-dollars
by using the Consumer Price Index [14].
Studies by Palar and Sturm [14], Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9], and Smith-Spangler et al. [11] were
selected as references for four main reasons: (1) They are all based on recent data covering the same
geographical area (the U.S.); (2) the focus is on population-wide salt reduction strategies; (3) they are
6. Sustainability 2012, 4 536
based on comprehensive datasets covering population subgroups defined by age, sex, and race, as well
as health states; and (4) together they cover a broad range of socioeconomic indicators.
We have used Palar and Sturm [14] and Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] as our primary references. Palar
and Sturm had modeled four sodium-reduction scenarios from the national average sodium intake level
of 3,400 mg/day to levels of 2,300 (32%), 1,700 (50%), 1,500 (56%), and 1,200 (65%) mg/day. They
used population level data on blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, and sodium intake,
which were then combined with parameters from the literature on sodium effects, costs, and quality of
life to yield model outcomes. We have referred to the largest sodium reduction scenario (65% sodium
reduction) because it is the most conservative in our case (see validation in Section 6). Estimates made
by Palar and Sturm (2009) [14] are based on dose-response relationships estimated in the ‘Meta Study’
by He and MacGregor [4]. Healthcare cost savings show the cost reductions expected from a decrease
in population blood pressure attributable to reduced population sodium consumption. The annual cost
per case of hypertension used in the Palar and Sturm analysis is USD 1,598 [25].
Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] used the Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Policy Model to quantify the
benefits of potentially achievable, population-wide reductions in dietary salt of up to 3 g per day
(approx. 1,200 mg of sodium per day). They estimated the rates and costs of cardiovascular disease
in population subgroups defined by age, sex, and race. In addition, they compared the effects of salt
reduction with those of other interventions (like medication) intended to reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease, and determined the relative cost-effectiveness.
The QALY and healthcare cost data from the Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] study were not considered
for our immediate calculations but for validation only. This priority was made to keep the assessment
conservative (see validation below). Likewise, the data from Smith-Spangler et al. [11] could have
been used for the primary calculations as well, but were reserved for validation to deliver a
conservative estimate.
Palar and Sturm [14] and Smith-Spangler et al. [11] provide results as a single figure, whereas
Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] provide intervals. We have adopted the result format from the individual
references, and this explains the diverse nature of our results.
Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] suggests with reference to He-MacGregor [21] that there is a linear
relationship between sodium intake reduction within the 0–3 gram range (0–1,200 mg sodium) and
blood pressure reduction. Blood pressure is linked with coronary heart diseases and subsequent deaths,
and therefore economic impacts on society, and we assumed that this also applies to the rest of the
socioeconomic indicators considered in the study.
4. Estimation of Sodium Intake Reduction Potential of MPE in the U.S., SIR(MPE)
Approximately 35 million tons of meat are consumed in the U.S. every year [26]. Around 22% of
this meat is processed [27] and annual processed meat consumption in the U.S. is around 7.7 million
tons. Chicken and pork make up 75% of the processed meat where MPE is most relevant, and target
meat for MPE is in the region of 5.7 million tons. Processed meat contains around 1% sodium [28] and
the nationwide annual total sodium intake with target processed meat is around 5.7 × 107 kg per year.
With a broad implementation of MPE in processed meat, the sodium intake could be reduced by 36%
(see Introduction), in other words 2.05 × 107 kg per year. The total U.S. population is 311 million
7. Sustainability 2012, 4 537
people [29] and the potential daily sodium intake reduction per person is 180 mg. The current
population-wide sodium intake per person in the U.S. is 3,466 mg/day [26] and the population-wide
sodium intake reduction achieved by implementing MPE is therefore estimated to be:
Sodium intake saved per person mg/day 180
SIR MPE 5.2% (2)
Current sodium intake per person mg/day 3466
5. Estimation of the Socioeconomic Impacts of MPE
Estimation of the socioeconomic impacts of broad implementation of MPE in processed meat in the
U.S. is determined by Formula (1). SIR(MPE) is derived from the previous section and literature data
are derived from Table 1. The results are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Calculation of the socioeconomic impacts of broad implementation of meat
protein extract (MPE) in processed meat and reducing population-wide salt intake in the
United States by 5.2%.
Social impact indicator Socioeconomic effect Socioeconomic impact
per percent of salt of MPE
Category Type reduction a) implementation
SEI(total)/SIR(total) SEI(MPE)
Health aspects Reduction in cases of hypertension 272,307 ~990,000
Annual reduction in the number of new
1,714–3,429 ~6,400–13,000
cases of coronary heart disease
Annual reduction in the number of new
914–1,886 ~3,400–7,000
cases of strokes
Annual reduction in the number of new
1,543–2,829 ~5,700–10,000
cases of myocardial infarction
Annual reduction in the number of
1,257–2,629 ~4,600–10,000
deaths from any cases
Individual aspects QALY b), year 7,645 ~28,000
Societal aspects Annual direct healthcare cost savings,
0.43 ~1.6
billion USD/year
QALY c) worth, billion USD/year 0.76 ~2.8
a) b) c)
Calculated from data in Table 1; QALY: Quality Adjusted Life Year; 100,000 USD/QALY, see Section 3.
Table 2 shows that even though the sodium reduction achieved by MPE implementation is limited,
the projected benefits for people and society is substantial. For instance, approximately 1 million
hypertension cases can be avoided and annual direct healthcare costs of USD 1.6 billion can be saved.
Likewise, the indirect savings are of around USD 2.8 billion because fewer people get sick and are
able to work and pay taxes. Additionally, the number of deaths which can potentially be avoided is up
to 10,000.
8. Sustainability 2012, 4 538
6. Validation
This assessment is based on a selection of data from the literature (see Table 1). The results would
have been different if other basis data had been used. In the following, we will test the robustness of
our estimates by cross-checking with other data as mentioned in Section 3.
Estimation of hypertension cases avoided, annual health cost savings, QALY, and QALY worth
were based on a 65% sodium reduction scenario by Palar and Sturm [14]. Palar and Sturm [14] also
had three other salt reduction scenarios which have been assessed based on the same principles as
described above. The results show that savings would have been up to 32% higher if lower salt
reduction scenarios had been selected. This indicates that estimates in this study are conservative.
Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] and Smith-Spangler et al. [11] also assessed QALY savings and
healthcare cost savings achieved by salt reduction (see Table 1). Table 3 repeats the results based on
Palar and Sturm [14] (reference) and shows to what extent the results would have been different if data
from Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] and Smith-Spangler et al. [11] had been used instead.
Table 3. Validation of estimates of QALY and healthcare costs by comparing the reference
results with results based on other studies (validation). Comparisons in brackets refer to
the reference.
Social impact Palar and Sturm [14] Bibbins-Domingo et al. [9] Smith-Spangler et al. [11]
indicator Reference Validation Validation
11,200 7,809
QALY, year 7,645
(46% higher) (2% higher)
Healthcare costs, 1.1–2.5 18
1.6
billion USD (31% lower or 56% higher) (approx. 11 times higher)
Table 3 shows how widely QALY estimates and healthcare cost estimates vary. However, estimates
based on Palar and Sturm [14] are at the lower end in both cases, and the effects of using MPE do not
appear to be overemphasized.
7. Discussion
The study uses a range of measurable parameters to provide an indication of the impact on the U.S.
population of a population-wide sodium intake reduction facilitated by the use of MPE in processed
meat. Some of these impacts are intangible and are measured in QALY. There is an ongoing
discussion in the research community regarding methodological issues pertaining to QALY [32] and
other cost efficiency measures [33]. We acknowledge that QALY is not a perfect indicator, but we
have used it here as it is the most widely used outcome measure for evaluating healthcare interventions
and we find that in spite of the limitations, QALY contribute to informed decision for instance at
policy level.
This study has focused on the U.S. because health problems related to salt intake are considerable
there and also well investigated in the literature. Our results are highly dependent on food consumption
patterns, and we recommend that specific results from the study are not extrapolated directly to other
countries unless food consumption patterns are similar. However, the general observation that
9. Sustainability 2012, 4 539
considerable individual, health, and societal burdens can be avoided by implementing MPE in countries
where salt intake is exceeding health-based recommendations can be transferred without precautions.
Many national initiatives in the U.S. target reducing population sodium intake. NSRI is one such
initiative (see Introduction). The goal set under NSRI is to reduce Americans’ sodium intake by 20%
to lower the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and premature death. A broad implementation of MPE in
processed meat in the U.S. as an alternative to salt would help America to achieve around 25% of this
goal (5.2% divided by 20% equals ~25%).
Every year, common chronic diseases (see Introduction) put a considerable cost burden on the U.S.
health system. In 2011, the American Heart Association estimated that in the next two decades, 40% of
the U.S. population is expected to suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease, which will cost
around USD 800 billion annually [30]. Seen from this macro perspective, the health and cost savings
observed in this study (see Table 2) are small, and salt replacement with MPE can only be seen as one
instrument to limit the burden among many others.
8. Conclusions and Outlook
This socioeconomic assessment shows that the broad implementation of MPE produced by enzymes
in processed meat in the U.S. could reduce population average sodium intake by around 5%. This
translates to an average salt intake reduction per person of around 65 g/year or 450 mg/day. A sodium
intake reduction of this magnitude has the potential to reduce the annual number of new cases of
hypertension in the U.S. by approx. 1 million, save approximately USD 1.6 billion in healthcare costs,
and gain 28,000 QALY worth approximately USD 2.8 billion annually. Validation of results indicates
that the above results are relatively conservative and that, for instance, healthcare cost savings could be
up to USD 18 billion.
Health and societal problems related to excessive salt intake are widespread today in the U.S. and,
unless preventive measures are taken, are expected to grow further in the next two decades. MPE
cannot solve the entire problem, but it can be part of the solution. In the NSRI led by New York City
Health Department, MPE could contribute to achieving 25% of the national 20% salt intake reduction
goal by 2014.
MPE is a technology that offers an option to help solve significant social problems without
compromising business or on the taste of processed meat. We encourage actors in the food chain to
consider this new technology and contribute to sustainable development of our societies.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Bent Piil Pedersen and Isaac Ashie from Novozymes A/S, who
developed the enzymatic processes for MPE production and provided valuable technical insights for
the paper. The study was financed by Novozymes A/S.
10. Sustainability 2012, 4 540
Conflict of Interest
The authors are employed by Novozymes A/S and have an interest in MPE because Novozymes has
fostered MPE as an alternative to salt and deals with enzymes for making it. Novozymes does not
produce MPE and does not deal with MPE in any other ways.
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